UK pays its respects

September 13, 2001 9:31 AM

UK pays its respects For the first time in history, the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace was changed. The US national anthem was played, followed by a two-minute silence.
posted by keith (24 comments total)

This may sound crazy, but I just have this deep notion that in time, when the dust settles, the world is going to be a better place for all of this.

I could be laughably wrong, but it's stories like this one that help to keep my chin up.
posted by glenwood at 9:38 AM on September 13, 2001

I heard that last night, and it seemed like a lovely gesture, but still sort of strange...after all, wasn't our anthem written while we were under attack by the English military? but again, it was a wonderful gesture.
posted by epersonae at 9:45 AM on September 13, 2001

To all of you over in Britain: Thank you.
posted by gd779 at 9:46 AM on September 13, 2001

On the one hand we (in the UK) feel for the victims and their families, are in shock as you are and will do anything to help that we can. On the other we are dubious as to our stance as America's little brother. I want the terrorists rooted out and punished, but I don't want a full scale knee-jerk reaction against Arab nations.

I like kebabs and baclava cakes.
posted by Frasermoo at 9:55 AM on September 13, 2001

Wow. That was moving to read.
posted by Hankins at 10:01 AM on September 13, 2001

I was in England for the first half of this year. When I read this, I was moved as this means a great deal to me. Although I want to recognize the rest of the world, which is making similar gestures during this week. I want to thank the whole world.
posted by crog at 10:02 AM on September 13, 2001

Frasermoo speaks again for the entire populace of England!

:)
posted by glenwood at 10:05 AM on September 13, 2001

i don't mind I tellls ya!
posted by Frasermoo at 10:06 AM on September 13, 2001

I like kebabs and baclava cakes.

Kebabs are truly amazing objects, and no-one can doubt that.

But what are baclava cakes?

Excuse my ignorance.
posted by ajbattrick at 10:09 AM on September 13, 2001

light pastry sweets drenched in golden syrup.

F*cking glorious. (although they may actually be Romanian, whatever)
posted by Frasermoo at 10:11 AM on September 13, 2001

Baclava are small slices of heaven.

Make pasteries and not war!

Now back to the international crisis.
posted by estopped at 10:14 AM on September 13, 2001

Baklava is Turkish
posted by prolific at 10:15 AM on September 13, 2001

As Prince Charles said yesterday, the Royal Family hasn't escaped terrorism itself in recent history.

The flowers surrounding the FDR statue on Grosvenor Square, outside the US Embassy, speak eloquently of the atmosphere here. My local town hall opened a book of condolence today: I'll be heading down to sign. In the five years since I met my girlfriend, I've gained many, many American friends; in times like this, political differences mean nothing.
posted by holgate at 10:20 AM on September 13, 2001

Or Greek, depending on who you ask, but I am not getting involved in that debate.
posted by estopped at 10:20 AM on September 13, 2001

Wow. Amazing story to read. Yet another example of what has long been termed the "special relationship" between US and UK.

I would hope that if this tragedy had played out in London rather than NY, that we here in America would be showing the same sort of respect and support to them as they are showing us right now.
posted by PeteyStock at 10:22 AM on September 13, 2001

It's very interesting to consider the difference between the reactions to the WTC bombing and the killing of about 800,000 people in one incident in 1994. My guess would be that people on the street in London and New York would be hard pressed to even name the country in which it happened.
posted by websavvy at 10:55 AM on September 13, 2001

I think most people know about the Rwanda genocide... you don't think they do?
posted by Johannahh at 11:10 AM on September 13, 2001

Very moving and decent.

I hadn't even considered the loss of foreign nationals, but... if the number of British casualties is in the "middle hundreds" then they've suffered one of their worst terrorist attacks, too... other EU nations may have, too.

Only a minor point, I guess, but... why are they sending condolences to the Mayor of Washington, DC? The Pentagon is in Virginia.
posted by coelecanth at 11:34 AM on September 13, 2001

Johannahh:

No, I don't.

When that happened, it may have received some coverage on the national news and in newspapers, but I don't think that the average American citizen really encountered it.

I believe that the WTC incident was horrifying, but am appalled at how certain horrors make the front pages and absolutely interrupt virtually all facets of life for weeks, while others just don't.

If the estimates were true, then 800,000 Rwandans were hacked to death. This will probably end up being about 20 to 80 times the number of casualties in the WTC tragedy.
posted by websavvy at 11:44 AM on September 13, 2001

They may not be able to name the country, the year, or grasp the scale, and some of them may simplistically lump it in with other low-grade ethnic conflicts, but a lot of people probably know about it. Can we stay on topic, and avoid grandstanding?

I, for one, was extremely moved to read this story. I hope I get to see some footage on TV given the wall-to-wall coverage. I saw the Prince of Wales signing his condolences, but this was more emotionally arresting. There are many Britons today who well recall our assistance half a century ago when they were threatened, particularly when popular sentiment favored isolationism, and the sanctuary that America gave to many British children during the height of the battle. There's no question theirs is a resolute friendship. To the UK members here: Thank you.

Frasermoo: as with the Gulf War, this is going to take a delicate coalition that takes account of the common interests we have with certain Muslim countries and the potential that greater engagement has for peace in the Mideast. It's not going to be a half-cocked fire-first-ask-questions later affair. At least, I can say that as an American I have the same hopes you do.

epersonae: the words to the anthem were written by Francis Scott Key during the British assault on Ft. McHenry, near Washington, during the War of 1812; he was on a mission of mercy to release a captured friend. The music, however, is an elaborate traditional English drinking song (hear a lovely rendition). It was only later that someone found the words fit the music so well (if only the sober could sing it).
posted by dhartung at 11:53 AM on September 13, 2001

American national anthem The original tune was "To Anacreon in Heaven," an English drinking song written by John Stafford Smith with words by Ralph Tomlinson, Esq.

In Rwanda 800,000 people were hacked to death by other Rwandans, hardly appropriate as a direct comparison other than that hate is universal. I think we all know what hate can do and everybody will have an example you don't know of.

What a mighty high horse you have, websavvy.
posted by jackspot at 12:13 PM on September 13, 2001

Welcome to Metafilter, Jackspot.
posted by websavvy at 12:44 PM on September 13, 2001

Gosh, are you a founder member? I didn't realise, if I had I wouldn't have been so presumptive as to post.

Don't get saddle sore now.
posted by jackspot at 12:54 PM on September 13, 2001

Returning to the point of this post, the BBC has changed the programme of the Last Night of the Proms from its traditional cheery patriotism ("Land of Hope and Glory" et al) to feature American works led by an American conductor, and the final movement of Beethoven's Ninth.

I doubt there'll be a dry eye in the house.
posted by holgate at 3:07 PM on September 13, 2001